Floating body of sophisticated shape produced from a single sheet of film with a single sealing

ABSTRACT

A floating body comprising a first swelling portion having a gas inlet port through which gas is introduced and a plurality of second swelling portions each being held in fluid communication with the first swelling portion. The first and second swelling portions are formed by folding a single multi-layer film to form a nonpleat portion corresponding to the first swelling portion and pleat portions corresponding to the second swelling portions and by sealing the folded multi-layer film along a continuous seal line which extends over both the pleat and nonpleat portions and forms the gas inlet port in the nonpleat portion.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 268,447, filed Nov. 7, 1988now U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,254.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to floating bodies such as balloons andthe like, and a method for producing such floating bodies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It has been known that a piece of plastic film folded in two is heatsealed and the heat sealed plastic file is inflated with gas to a simpleglobular shape to obtain a floating body such a balloon and the like.However, in the conventional heat sealing method of the above kind, onlya floating body of simple globular shape can be obtained, and in orderto obtain a floating body of complex shape, several pieces of plasticfilm must be heat sealed several times.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide afloating body of complex shape obtained by one-time heat sealing and amethod for producing such a floating body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one important aspect of the present invention, thereis provided a floating body such as a balloon and the like, comprising asingle multi-layer film being heat sealed so as to have a first singleswelling portion having a gas inlet port through which gas is introducedto inflate the floating body and have a plurality of second swellingportions each being held in fluid communication with the first singleswelling portion. The plurality of second swelling portions may compriseswelling portions of exactly equal size. The plurality of secondswelling portions also may comprise different swelling portions ofdifferent length. The floating body may float in air due to buoyancy ofthe gas, when the gas is introduced through the gas inlet port in thefloating body. The floating body may be stationarily placed on a floor,ground and the like, when the gas is introduced through the gas inletport in the floating body. The single multi-layer film may comprise aO-nylon film having an aluminum film deposited on one end surfacethereof and an anchor coat film coated on the other surface thereof, anda polyethylene resin film laminated on the anchor coat film.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention,there is provided a floating body such as a balloon and the like,comprising a plurality multi-layer films being heat sealed so as to havea first single swelling portion having a gas inlet port through whichgas is introduced to inflate the floating body and have a plurality ofsecond swelling portions each being held in fluid communication with thefirst single swelling portion. The plurality of second swelling portionsmay comprise swelling portions of exactly equal size. The plurality ofsecond swelling portions also may comprise different swelling portionsof different length. The floating body may float in air due to buoyancyof the gas, when the gas is introduced through the gas inlet port in thefloating body. The floating body may be stationarily placed on a floor,ground and the like, when the gas is introduced through the gas inletport in the floating body. Each of the plurality of multi-layer filmsmay comprise a O-nylon film having an aluminum film deposited on one endsurface thereof and an anchor coat film coated on the other surfacethereof, and a polyethylene resin film laminated on the anchor coatfilm.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention,there is provided a method for producing a floating body such as aballoon and the like which has a first swelling portion with a gas inletport and a plurality of second swelling portions each communicating withthe first swelling portion, comprising the steps of: folding a singlemulti-layer film having a sealing performance so that a non-pleatportion corresponding to the first swelling portion of the floating bodyis formed in the film and pleat portions corresponding to the pluralityof second swelling portions are formed in the film; sealing the foldedmulti-layer film along a seal line which extends over both the pleat andnon-pleat portions and forms the gas inlet port in the non-pleatportion; and cutting and removing the sealed multi-layer film. Theplurality of second swelling portions of the floating body may comprisewelling portions of exactly equal size. The plurality of second swellingportions of the floating body also may comprise different wellingportions of different length.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention,there is provided a method for producing a floating body such as aballoon and the like which has a first swelling portion with a gas inletport and a plurality of second swelling portions each communicating withthe first swelling portion, comprising the steps of: overlapping aplurality of multi-layer films each having a sealing performance so asto form a non-pleat portion corresponding to the first swelling portionof the floating body and pleat portions corresponding to the pluralityof second swelling portions; sealing the overlapped multi-layer filmsalong a seal line which extends over both the pleat and non-pleatportions and forms the gas inlet port in the non-pleat portion; andcutting and removing the sealed multi-layer films. The plurality ofsecond swelling portions of the floating body may comprise wellingportions of exactly equal size. The plurality of second swellingportions of the floating body also may comprise different wellingportions of different length. The plurality of multi-layer films eachhaving a sealing performance may comprise a flat film having no foldedportion and a folded film folded in the middle thereof. The plurality ofmulti-layer films each having a sealing performance also may comprise aflat film having no folded portion, a folded film folded in the middlethereof and a flat and folded film having a flat portion and a foldedportion fold at one end of the flat portion. The plurality ofmulti-layer films each having a sealing performance also may comprise aflat film having no folded portion and a flat and folded film having aflat portion and a folded portion fold at one end of the flat portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of a floating body and a method forproducing the floating body in accordance with the present inventionwill be more clearly understood from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a multi-layer film having a sealingperformance which is employed in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the multi-layer film folded in accordancewith a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side view showing the manner in which the multi-layer filmof FIG. 1 is folded;

FIG. 3B is a side view showing the manner in which the multi-layer filmfolded in the middle thereof according to the manner of FIG. 3A is againfolded to obtain the folded multi-layer film shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view showing the condition wherein the uppersurface of the multi-layer film folded as shown in FIG. 2 is heat sealedalong a seal line in the form of a guitar;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the condition wherein suitable gas isintroduced in a floating body obtained from FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a multi-layer film folded in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the condition wherein the uppersurface of the multi-layer film folded as shown in FIG. 6 is heat sealedalong a seal line of an animal shape;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the condition wherein suitable gasis introduced in a floating body obtained from FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a multi-layer film folded in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a multi-layer film folded in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view showing an upper flat multi-layer film, anintermediate folded multi-layer film and a lower flat multi-layer filmwhich are overlapped with one another in accordance with a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view showing the condition wherein the uppersurface of the overlapped multi-layer films is heat sealed;

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the condition wherein suitable gas isintroduced in a floating body obtained from FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a side view showing an upper flat multi-layer film, twointermediate folded multi-layer films of equal size and a lower flatmulti-layer film which are overlapped with one another in accordancewith a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view showing an upper flat multi-layer film, threeintermediate folded multi-layer films of equal size and a lower flatmulti-layer film which are overlapped with one another in accordancewith a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a side view showing an upper flat multi-layer film, differentintermediate folded multi-layer films of different size and a lower flatmulti-layer film which are overlapped with one another in accordancewith an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 illustrates the case that a floating body is obtained by thecombination of a flat multi-layer film having no folded portion, afolded multi-layer film folded in the middle thereof, and a flat andfolded multi-layer film having a flat portion and a folded portion atthe one end of the flat portion; and

FIGS. 18 through 21 respectively illustrate the cases that a floatingbody is obtained by the combination of at least one flat multi-layerfilm having no folded portion and at least one flat and foldedmulti-layer film having a flat portion and a folded portion folded atthe one end of the flat portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1through 5, there is shown a first embodiment of a floating bodyaccording to the present invention and a method for producing the same.The floating body of this embodiment is made from a sheet of multi-layerfilm by one-time heat sealing and comprises a single substantiallyspherical portion and two substantially spherical portions of equalshape and equal size. The "floating body" used in the present inventionis intended to mean not only a floating body such as a balloon and thelike which is heat sealed and inflated with gas into a desired form andnaturally floats in air due to the buoyancy of the gas enclosed withinthe body, but a stationary body which is heat sealed and inflated withgas into a desired form of animal, doll and the like and stationarilyplaced on the ground, floor and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a multi-layer film 1 consisting, forexample, of a O-nylon film 2 having an aluminum film 3 deposited on theouter surface thereof and an anchor coat film 3' coated on the innersurface thereof, and a polyethylene resin film 4 laminated on the anchorcoat film 3' by means of a melting and extruding method. Thepolyethylene laminate film 4 has a sealing performance and constitutesthe innermost layer of the multi-layer film 1. As shown in FIG. 2, themulti-layer film 1 comprises a pleat portion 8 and a non-pleat portion9, with the innermost layer 4 disposed inside the film 1. With theinnermost layer 4 disposed inside, the multi-layer film 1 is folded at afirst fold line 5 in the middle of the film 1 in the left directionindicated by the arrow in FIG. 3A to obtain a form of FIG. 3B. Themulti-layer film 1 folded as shown in FIG. 3B is again folded at secondfold lines 6 and 6 in the positions of equal distance from the firstfold line 5 in the right directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3Bso that pleats 7 and 7 can be formed between the first and second foldlines 5 and 6 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the multi-layer film 1 folded as describedabove, and the aforesaid fold line 5 is indicated by broken lines. Theleft side of the fold line 5 is the aforementioned pleat portion 8having the pleats 7 and 7 between the fold lines 5 and 6, while theright side is the aforementioned non-pleat portion 9 having no pleats.The multi-layer film 1 folded as described above is heat sealed along aseal line 10 confirming with a design or print to be formed. In thisembodiment, the seal line 10 is in the form of a guitar, and has at itsone end a straight portion 10' which will be a gas inlet port 11 of aninflated floating body 12, a first substantially circular portion 10"extending from the straight portion 10' which will be a single swellingportion 13 of the inflated floating body 12, and a second substantiallycircular portion 10'" which will be inflated a plurality of swellingportions 14 and 14' of the inflated floating body 12 which are equal toeach other in shape and size. After the folded multi-layer film 1 isheat sealed along the seal line 10, it is cut along the outside of theseal line 10 to obtain the floating body 12 shown in FIG. 5. Themulti-layer film 1 sealed and cut as mentioned above is then inflatedwith suitable gas from the gas inlet port 11 into the inflated floatingbody 12 shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, reference numerals 10', 10" and 10'"indicate heat-welded portions which are sealed along the seal line 10.In this way, a floating body comprising a single swelling portion withan gas inlet port and a plurality of swelling portions communicatingwith the single swelling portion and of substantially equal shape andequal size is very easily obtained from a sheet of multi-layer film bymeans of one-time heat sealing in accordance with the present invention.Thus, a complicated three dimensional floating body which has heretoforebeen produced through several complicated processes can be easilyobtained by suitably forming the pleat portion and non-pleat portion ofthe multi-layer film according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, there is shown a second embodiment of afloating body according to the present invention. This embodiment haspleat portions at left and right ends or upper and lower ends of amulti-layer film. The parts substantially identical to those of thefirst embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5 are designated by like referencenumerals and therefore the detailed description will hereinafter beomitted. A multi-layer film 1 of the second embodiment is folded asshown in FIG. 6. One end of the multi-layer 1 is indicated by referencenumeral 17, and the other end by reference numeral 17'. As a result,pleat portions 8 and 8' are formed at the opposite portions of themulti-layer film 1, and a non-pleat portion 9 is formed between thepleat portions 8 and 8'. The pleat portions 8 and 8' are substantiallyidentical with each other, the portions associated with the pleatportion 8' being designated by the symbol (').

The multi-layer film 1 folded as shown in FIG. 6 is heat sealed along aseal line 10 shown in FIG. 7, and cut along the outside of the seal line10 to obtain a floating body 12 as shown in FIG. 8. The cut multi-layerfilm 1 is then inflated with suitable gas into the floating body 12. Asa result, the non-pleat portion 9 sealed along the seal line 10 isinflated as a single swelling portion 13 consisting of a tail portion15, trunk portion 16, neck portion 17 and head portion 18, while thepleat portion 8 sealed along the seal line 10 is inflated as a pluralityof swelling portions 14 of exactly equal size consisting of ear portions19 and 19'. The pleat portion 8' disposed in symmetrical relationship tothe pleat portion 8 is inflated as a plurality of swelling portions 14'of exactly equal size consisting of front leg portions 20 and 20' and asa plurality of swelling portions 14" of exactly equal size consisting ofrear leg portions 21 and 21'. It is preferable that such parts as an eye22, nose 23, mouth 24 and the like be printed in advance.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is shown a third embodiment of a floatingbody according to the present invention. The parts substantiallyidentical to those of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5 aredesignated by like reference numerals and therefore the description willhereinafter be omitted. This embodiment is characterized in that threeor more swelling portions of exactly equal size can be obtained byincreasing the number of pleats 7 as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a fourth embodiment of a floatingbody according to the present invention. The parts substantiallyidentical to those of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 5 aredesignated by like reference numerals. This embodiment is characterizedin that different pleat portions 8 and 8' of different length can beobtained by forming a shorter pleat 7 and a longer pleats 7' as shown inFIG. 10.

Referring to FIGS. 11 through 13, there is shown a fifth embodiment of afloating body according to the present invention. Unlike the embodimentsshown in FIGS. 1 through 10, this embodiment is characterized in thatthe floating body is obtained from a plurality of films consisting oftwo flat 10 multi-layer films 31X and 31X' and a single foldedmulti-layer film 31Y. Each of these multi-layer films is the same as themulti-layer film 1 shown in FIG. 1 and thus comprises a O-nylon filmhaving an aluminum film deposited on one surface thereof and an anchorcoat film coated on the other surface thereof, and a polyethylene resinfilm laminated on the anchor coat film by means of a melting andextruding method. The polyethylene laminate film has a sealingperformance and constitutes an innermost layer 36 of each of theaforesaid multi-layer films 31X, 31X' and 31Y.

The intermediate folded film 31Y is folded at a fold line C in themiddle of the film as shown in FIG. 11 and arranged between the upperand lower flat films 31X and 31X'. The films 31X, 31Y and 31X' are thenoverlapped with one another so that the end 41 of the upper film 31X,the ends 41" and 41'" of the intermediate film 31Y and the end 41" ofthe lower film 31X' are vertically aligned with one another. As shown inFIG. 11, each innermost layer 36 having a sealing performance isarranged inside so that the films 31X, 31Y and 31X' can be sealedtogether when heat is applied on the upper film 31X. With thisarrangement, the upper film 30X is heat sealed along a seal line 37 toobtain a floating body 40. As shown in FIG. 13, the floating body 40obtained as described above has a gas inlet port 42 at its one end, twoswelling portions 38 and 38' of substantially spherical configuration atits the other end, and a single swelling portion 39 between the gasinlet port 42 and the two swelling portions 38 and 38'.

In FIG. 12, the aforesaid fold line C is indicated by broken lines. Theleft side of the fold line C is a pleat portion A, while the right sideis a non-pleat portion B. The multi-layer films 31X, 31Y and 31X'overlapped as described above is heat sealed along the seal line 37extending over both the pleat portion A and non-pleat portion B. Theseal line 37 is in the form of a guitar, and has at its one end astraight portions 37' which is to be inflated into the gas inlet port 42of the floating body 40, a first substantially circular portion 37"extending from the straight portion 37' which is to be inflated into thesingle swelling portion 39 of the floating body 40, and secondsubstantially circular portions 37'" which is to be inflated into theswelling portions 38 of the floating body 40. When the upper and lowerflat films 31X and 31X' are overlapped with each other, the portionwherein the intermediate folded film 31Y is overlapped with the upperand lower flat films 31X and 31X' will be the aforesaid pleat portion A,while the portion wherein the intermediate folded film 31Y is notoverlapped with the upper and lower flat films 31X and 31X' will be theaforesaid non-pleat portion B.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a floating body according tothe present invention. The members substantially identical to those ofthe fifth embodiment of FIG. 11 are designated by like referencenumerals for avoiding the description. This embodiment is characterizedin that two folded multi-layer films 31Y and 31Y' are provided betweenflat films 31X and 31X' to obtain a floating body comprising two leftand right swelling portions or two upper and lower swelling portions.

FIG. 15 illustrates a seventh embodiment of a floating body according tothe present invention. The members substantially identical to those ofthe fifth embodiment of FIG. 11 are designated by like referencenumerals. This embodiment is characterized in that three intermediatefolded multi-layer films 31Y, 31Y and 31Y are provided between upper andlower flat multi-layer films 31X and 31X' for obtaining three swellingportions of exactly equal size. Thus, a plurality of swelling portionsof exactly equal size can be obtained by increasing the number ofintermediate folded multi-layer films of equal length.

FIG. 16 illustrates an eight embodiment of a floating body according tothe present invention. The members substantially identical to those ofthe fifth embodiment of FIG. 11 are designated by like referencenumerals. This embodiment is characterized in that a plurality ofintermediate folded multi-layer films 31Y and 31Y of different lengthare provided between upper and lower flat multi-layer films 31X and 31X'for obtaining different pleat portions of different length.

While it has been illustrated and described that, with respect to FIGS.11 through 16, a floating body is obtained by the combination of theflat film 31X having no folded portion and the folded film 31Y folded inthe middle thereof, FIG. 17 show the case that a floating body isobtained by the combination of a flat film 31X having no folded portion,a folded film 31Y folded in the middle thereof, and a flat and foldedfilm 31Z having a flat portion and a folded portion at the one end ofthe flat portion, and FIGS. 18 through 21 show the cases that a floatingbody is obtained by the combination of at least one flat film 31X havingno folded portion and at least one flat and folded film 31Z having aflat portion and a folded portion folded at the one end of the flatportion, respectively.

The multi-layer film employed in the present invention may comprise afilm having a sealing performance at its one surface and a film havingno sealing performance at the opposite surface. For instance, a plasticfilm having coated thereon a synthetic resin having a lower meltingpoint than that of the plastic film may be used as a film having asealing performance, and a plastic film having metal deposited on onesurface thereof may be used as a film having no sealing performance.

In the case the floating body obtained according to the presentinvention is maintained inflated for a longer time, it is necessary toselect a film having a better gas barrier performance, while in the casethe floating body is not maintained inflated for a longer time, it isnot necessary to select a film having a better gas barrier performance.

Heat sealing means employed in the present invention may comprise a heatplate sealing, impulse sealing, high-frequency sealing, ultrasonicsealing or the like.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that in accordance withthe present invention, there is provided a floating body of complexshape obtained by one-time heat sealing and a method for producing sucha floating body.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown forthe purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in this art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What we claim is:
 1. A floating body comprising a first swelling portionhaving a gas inlet port through which gas is introduced and a pluralityof second swelling portions each being held in fluid communication withsaid first swelling portion,said first and second swelling portionsbeing formed by folding a single multi-layer film to form a nonpleatportion corresponding to said first swelling portion and pleat portionscorresponding to said second swelling portions and by sealing the foldedmulti-layer film along a continuous seal line which extends over bothsaid pleat and nonpleat portions and forms said gas inlet port in saidnonpleat portion.
 2. A floating body as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of swelling portions comprise swelling portions ofexactly equal size.
 3. A floating body as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of swelling portions comprise different swelling portionsof different length.
 4. A floating body as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid floating body contains gas so that said floating body floats in airdue to buoyancy of said gas, when said gas is introduced through saidgas inlet port in said floating body.
 5. A floating body as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said inlet port is adapted to have gas introducedthrough said gas inlet port in said floating body when said floatingbody is stationarily placed on a floor, ground and the like.
 6. Afloating body as set forth in claim 1, wherein said single multi-layerfilm comprises a O-nylon film having an aluminum film deposited on oneend surface thereof and an anchor coat film coated on the other surfacethereof, and a polyethylene resin film laminated on said anchor coatfilm.
 7. A floating body comprising a single multi-layer film defining afirst swelling portion having a gas inlet port through which gas isintroduced and a plurality of second swelling portions each being heldin fluid communication with said first swelling portion,said film havinga first portion defining a nonpleat portion of the floating body andfolds defining pleat portions, and a continuous seal line extending overboth said pleat portions and said nonpleat portion and forming said gasinlet port in said nonpleat portion, said nonpleat portion defining saidfirst swelling portion and said pleat portions defining said secondswelling portions.